Dressed in silver tap shoes and yoga pants, Mrs. Tribuzi can almost always be found in the dance studio, leading stretch warm-ups or teaching a new dance routine to her students. Mrs. Tribuzi has been teaching dance at San Mateo High for the past 14 years since 2003. A talented and dedicated instructor, she is the teacher behind the annual spring dance concert, Mateo Motion, as well as the choreography in some of San Mateo High School’s shows. But how much do you really know about Robyn Tribuzi? A Bay Area native, Mrs. Tribuzi grew up in South…

I recently interviewed Ms. Burke, the AS and CP English teacher here at SMHS for 26 years, and asked her about her experiences here as a teacher. This is what she said. Over the years, how have you seen San Mateo change? What’s remained the same? Over the years I’ve seen the SMHS population demographic shift, which has shifted our priorities, class offerings and clubs. I’ve seen so many new and diverse clubs established and contributing to our ‘family’ in positive ways. I see the same spirit (which is what we’re known for) that I’ve seen for 26 years. Although…

A mentor. A man with a passion for writing, language, and learning. A teacher who really cares about his students success and growth. These are only a few of the ways one could describe Ivan Nate Johnson, a man who has dedicated 21 years of his life to challenging, teaching, and guiding his students through life, as well as AS English. Mr. Johnson has seen the school go through many changes, from the complete reconstruction of the school, to the ever fluctuating teachers and faculty but, “Fundamentally san mateo has always had that san mateo spirit and it’s always been…

Though not many student know her name, she plays a huge role in the San Mateo High School community. She is a caring, selfless member of the staff who helps ELD, or English Language Development, students who struggle with English succeed in class and in life, as well as helping administer testing with the ELD students. Ms. Casco came to the United States in 1997 from Nicaragua, and she didn’t speak a word of English, so she attended Skyline College in San Bruno to help develop her English skills. In 1997 she got a job at San Mateo High working…

With the voice of Tom Hanks, the humor of Mark Twain, and the knowledge of Encyclopedia Britannica, it’s no coincidence that Nels Johnson has had a successful twenty-two year tenure here at San Mateo. Officially, he’s an English teacher. Unofficially, he’s a college advisor, a foreign rock aficionado, an enemy of birds, a high-end coffee consumer, and above all else, a mentor in sarcasm. On any given day, you can witness Mr. Johnson in his natural habitat – strolling down the B-building, almost late to class, sporting a pair of his signature spectacles. Having taught each and every section of…

Name: Aura Smithers-Cordell Classroom: M112 Favorite part about teaching: “I love getting to know students, seeing them grow and seeing them improve in their reading and writing.” Goals for the year: “I’ve taught middle school for 13 years. This is my first year teaching high school so I’m excited to be here and really get a handle for the curriculum and meet the needs of high school students. Obviously I want to make it challenging and rigorous and also support students where they need it.” Why SMHS: “I have some colleagues who teach here that I went to the UC Berkeley credential program…

Teacher: Ms. Lara Room nu mber: A143 Subjects: Spanish for Native Speakers, Spanish 3 for Non Native Speakers, Guided Studies Favorite part about teaching: “The interaction with the students and me being able to push their limits.” Goals for the year: “My goals are obviously to be the best teacher that I can be for my students so they can excel.” Why SMHS: “I love the spirit in the school. I think it’s a great school with a lot of resources for students and a lot of great opportunities.” Favorite cereal: “ My favorite cereal would be Captain Crunch.” Cats…

Name: Mr.Andruha Room Number: A237 Subject: Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra Support Favorite part about teaching: “Helping kids, getting the ‘aha’ moment when they finally understand something.” Goals for this year: “Survive. Also make a name for myself here at school as someone that can help kids out and someone that understands the subject matter.” Why SMHS: “It’s a great school, it’s ranked as one of the top 250 schools in the nation. Its academically top-notch.” Favorite sports team: 49ers Favorite movie: A Beautiful Mind Favorite dance move: “Sitting down. I can’t dance.” Early bird or night owl: “Both. I…